The cat is a strict carnivore, so it needs meat as a fundamental element of its daily meal. Animal proteins, and therefore the type of meat used for the production of cat food, are very varied; however, the position they have in the description of the composition on the label assumes importance, because it must be present in the greater quantity than the rest and therefore mentioned in the first place.
The variety of companies that produce both dry and wet cat food is enormous. For this reason it is important to be advised by the operators in the sector or by your veterinarian in a conscious choice of good quality.
For further information: Feeding the cat he must support the growth and changes in needs that naturally change during his life.
For this reason, foods are divided into the three main phases of feline life:
- Food for kittens (now often referred to by the English name kitten) are designed to accompany the cat from weaning to adulthood. This type of food is in fact proposed when the kitten abandons the mother's milk and switches to a "dry and / or wet" feeding; it is designed with a very small size, easy to grasp to facilitate good chewing. Kitten foods contain adequate nutritional support of vitamins and minerals for the growth of the kitten, which needs more energy than an adult cat and support for its still developing immune system. Therefore, antioxidant substances, digestible proteins and specific fibers are often present to accompany the formation of a good intestinal microbiome.In general, food for kittens can be used until the end of the growth period, thus reaching one year of age.
- Food for adult cats or sterilized adult cats must be offered from the year of life and can be used up to the age of 7-8. The composition of this food has a lower energy content than that of the kitten, especially if you switch to specific foods for sterilized cats; these in fact are subjects that change their metabolism and are more likely to gain weight. In any case, good quality foods are balanced for the maintenance of the adult cat in good health with a high protein content to support the muscles and a precaution for the urinary tract. Among the foods for adult cats is also indicated the choice according to the type of life that the animal carries out: a home cat will certainly need less energy than an explorer cat, so there are balanced formulas for both lifestyles.
- Food for senior cats must be used from the age of 7-8 years and follow the changes in the needs of the elderly cat. In this case, generally, the digestibility of the food is increased and antioxidant substances are added to prevent the first symptoms of aging. . Renal and urinary tract function is also supported, whose pathologies mainly affect elderly cats.
These indications follow the general lines of changes that a healthy cat has during its life, thus excluding the specific indications that must be followed in case of diagnosed pathologies. In these cases, in fact, the veterinarian will prescribe specific diets.
For further information: Cat feeding: choice of food and label reading for active cats with an important size. In fact, sources of omega 3 fatty acids such as EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) are added to the formulation for their joint anti-inflammatory action and a good content of proteins and fats is maintained to support the muscles.